AFTER analysing our turn to be the victims of opening day madness there was no time to dwell on the weekends 3-0 reversal from the hands of Steve Clarke’s West Brom. A trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts was in store, a Europa League tie which will test the mettle of Rodgers ramblers.
We can all agree that Saturday was a freak result which combined profligate finishing, poor concentration in our defensive zones and rotten luck against a rampant Baggies side led by our former first team coach. It hurt but we move on. The Jam Tarts are a solid outfit who will be keen to give the battered image of Scottish football a lift by qualifying for the group stages of a European competition for the first time since their Uefa cup mis-adventure in 2004-05. The Anglo-Scottish rivalry also gives the tie teeth.
The Reds will be looking to repair our own wounded image in our search for a winning formula. Are the foundations in place to stay solid in the face of a difficult away fixture or will we crumble having left many of our stars at home in anticipation for the visit of the champions on Sunday?
Hearts came out of their blocks speedily, sticking to the gameplan of high-tempo, pressing football, making life uncomfortable for our collection of youth, experience and players with plenty to prove. The starting blocks were off with Pepe Reina and Dan Agger prominent in leading by example while sticking to game-plan the four P’s – Posession, Precision, Patience and Penetration – almost to the letter, encouraging their team-mates to keep passing the ball, keeping it from the opponents who’s high octane game may be a common strategy we will face this year.
With the ongoing Edinburgh fringe, the travelling Kopites were hoping the joke was not on them as the Scottish underdogs set out their task in a manful, dutiful manner. In the embryonic stage of the season it was one of our prized kids who took his opportunity to shine. Raheem Sterling is growing into a real asset for us. He wasn’t intimidated by the imposing nature of the home sides back line, making forays forward when given half a chance while showing game intelligence which belies his tender years. Our passing was neat yet conservative. Not a vintage Reds show but a valuable outing for the youngsters although the much maligned midfield three of Henderson, Spearing and Adam failed to make a viable case for inclusion on Sunday.
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Rodgers has emphasised how thin our squad is, not in girth but in numbers, Saying this, more chances will be given if we finish off the Scots at Anfield next Thursday in the Europa League’s bloated format. With Nuri Sahin’s arrival imminent, as reported by L4L’s Neil Patterson and the Clint Dempsey rumours refusing to go away we may be flush in the middle of the park and hopefully add some cutting edge to compliment our improved passing ability.
I suspect the first choice midfield triumvant of Steven Gerrard, Lucas and Joe Allen will be made available for the Anfield clash next Thursday with the exit door very much ajar for their underperforming challengers for their positions. Andy Carroll would have started ahead of the lively Fabio Borini if he didn’t have a hamstring complaint as it looks more likely that Rodgers won’t let his number 9’s former club “take liberties” with their “cheeky” bid to take their former hero home on the cheap or on loan. It would be foolish to discard him without having a replacement lined up straight away. I believe he will be used in the Europa League regularly to give him the showtime to wrestle his place back into the boss’ thinking. He could be key next Thursday against a backline who like to mix it.
There will be much greater tests but this may be a decent barometer for where we are and where we need to get to.
With an own goal from Andy Webster separating the sides, we should expect to cruise through to the group phase next week and watch as the fixtures pile up thick and fast. Bring it on!
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